PC 7424 and Adam's 7" pads

[SargentD]

Hey guys,

I'm going to be getting a PC 7424XP soon for my birthday (my wife is bad with secrets, lol) and I was going to get the Adam's 7" pads for it, but I've been hearing that the 7" pads are not ideal for this machine. (Useless was the most popular adjective) They recommended 5.5" pads instead.
Is that true or am I just hearing other people's opinions?

I'm big on simplicity, so I'd like to stick with Adam's products if at all possible so I don't have to go mixing and matching.

Cheers!

Nick

[Adam]

Happy Birthday Nick!  Your wife is a good woman....regardless of how good she is with keeping secrets! 

 

We have found that the PC and our pads and polishes can accomplish excellent results.   I'd certainly suggest the Microfiber Cutting Pad, Orange Foam Pad, and the Paint Correcting Polish.  You can accomplish much with that combo!

 

Others may chime in here, but you can accomplish great results there.  

 

Again, happy birthday!

[Norton]

Adam is spot-on, as always.  I use Adam's pads, polish, glaze, and wax with my PC7424XP.  I think the results are great.  (Multiple Best in Class car show awards indicate others agree...)

 

Whoever labeled the combination "useless" doesn't know what they're talking about.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Norton

[Team Adam's]

Happy Birthday Nick!

 

Are you from Camaro5, by chance?  

 

Lots of people badmouth 7" pads on a Porter Cable for various reasons, but we used and sold them for many years when we carried the PC.  Customers saw great results, and still do!  7" pads with a PC is what I started machine polishing with...and they weren't so unwieldy that I wanted gave up! 

 

Most of the people who think 7" pads are too large for the PC often reference them bogging the machine down due to their weight, which is really pretty silly when you think about it.  How much do you think an additional 3/4" ring of foam around the entire pad really weighs?  See where I'm going???

 

I've yet to see a side-by-side comparison of cutting action on a PC between 5.5-6" and 7" pads.  If anyone knows of a well-documented one...well, maybe I'll eat my words.  

[SargentD]

Yup, that's the forum!

I had a hard time understanding the logic behind the claims that 7" pads were too big for the PC, but they were all guys who were way more experienced detailers than I am, so I wasn't sure what to believe.

Cheers!

[Ricky Bobby]

Nick,are you buying the PC7424XP from an Adam's retailer?

 

If so, make sure they give you the Adam's 6" vented backing plate for it if you are going to use the 6.5" pads (Adams calls them 7").  Your wife is aware it doesn't come with a polishing backing plate from the factory right?

 

Since you seem to be somewhat new to DA polishing, the PC with 7" pads will do you ok for the most part, it just takes some time.

 

Are you working on hammered finishes or well maintained ones?  Have you purchased a compound/polish yet (I'm assuming you are getting the Adams orange and white combo?)

 

Also, this is a huge one, take a White Out pen when you first get the PC, and mark a line on your backing plate, as its CRUCIAL to watch pad rotation on the PC.  If the pad stops rotating, you are not correcting, and with the limited power capabilities of the PC, you need to make sure that pad rotates.

 

I tend to do heavy correction with MF cutting pads, light correction and/or one step with the Orange foam pads, and I do all my finishing with the White foam pads or equivalent from another brand.  Foam finishes down better than the MF finishing pads in my experience.

 

Now as well, I know you're going to be tempted to go balls to the wall and speed 6 and crank it out on those MF cutting pads, but actually, MF cutting pads is almost opposite of what you learn with foam.  You still want pad rotation (never stop), but make it very slow, and keep the speed of the machine on 4-5, and really work the buffing cycle.  For foam, you want medium pressure and make sure that pad is rotating pretty decently.

 

 

 

I would have been one of the guys to recommend 5.5" pads and a 5" backing plate for the PC as you get a bit more correction power, but for your needs I think you will be just fine to start (and we all start somewhere).  You will see very good results starting out with this combo, much better than by hand.  It may take you a couple more passes than with a more powerful machine on a smaller pad/plate combo, but no worries.

 

I actually still have my PC after years, and its now relegated to a smaller backing plate and for use with 3" and 4" pads (and its a beast with those!), I also have a 3rd gen GG6 which I use both 6.5" and 5.5" pads with.

 

 

 

Last tip (and this is my opinion):  Take that side handle, and throw it in the trash, and get some bolts/rubber washers and thread them into the side handle holes on the plastic shroud.  Not only will it cut down some vibration from the machine, but this way you can rest your hand on top of the machine and more accurately apply downward pressure as needed for your correction.  Your polishing will be much more efficient and accurate if you are not using the side handle.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Ricky Bobby

[SargentD]

Thanks for the informative reply, Jason!

Yes, I am planning on using Adam's products exclusively to start.
As for the Adam's backing plate, the one in this package is what you're talking about, right?

http://showandshine.ca/product/porter-cable-7424xp-polisher-with-premium-backing-plate/

They sell Adam's products exclusively, so I think/hope posting the link will be fine with the mods.

If my wife gets that set up, I'm good to go with the Adam's pads, correct?

[Team Adam's]

Yes, that's the setup you'll need to get you rolling with our pads and a PC!

 

If you get the PC elsewhere, this is the plate you'll need:

 

http://showandshine.ca/product/adams-premium-backing-plate-for-porter-cable-7424xp/

[Ricky Bobby]

Thanks for the informative reply, Jason!

 

Yes, I am planning on using Adam's products exclusively to start.

As for the Adam's backing plate, the one in this package is what you're talking about, right?

 

http://showandshine.ca/product/porter-cable-7424xp-polisher-with-premium-backing-plate/

 

They sell Adam's products exclusively, so I think/hope posting the link will be fine with the mods.

 

If my wife gets that set up, I'm good to go with the Adam's pads, correct?

 

Yep thats the one, its a nice backing plate for sure.

 

Be sure if you plan on using MF pads to pick up a pad brush, as you most definitely need to brush out the fibers after each pass, not sure if you have compressed air in the garage but that works even better to blow out the pad after each pass.

[SargentD]

Thanks again, Jason,

Will I need to add a counterweight to that? I've read/heard a few things about PCs needing a counterweight.
 

[Ricky Bobby]

Nope.  Counterweight changing is for sanding discs.

 

Just keep the one on the machine that it comes with.  If you get the PC and backing plate combo from that earlier link above, all you have to do is put a pad on and plug it in.

 

Of course you could take the handle off and fill the holes on both sides of the head with bolts too but whatever suits your fancy.  Watch Dylan's old videos on polishing with the PC and take note of his technique, its very spot on to how you should polish with a DA.

[Antv20]

Had no issues running 7 inch pads on my PC before I upgraded machines. Now the PC is setup for small pads